Collaborating on greening urban mobility

Dott is one of the Dutch providers of sustainable, shared, electric micromobility. The company designs and maintains both e-scooters and e-bikes for shared use in European urban areas, pursuing high ambitions in sustainability and circularity by innovating across its entire value chain. As a result, it is a leading player in the world of micromobility.

In 2021, Invest-NL invested in Dott as part of a consortium including EQT Ventures, Prosus Ventures, Sofina, Quadia, and Estari, to further develop its growth and impact ambitions. Henri Moissinac and Maxim Romain (founders of Dott), Elisabeth Storm de Grave (Senior Investment Manager at Invest-NL), and Elwin van Rooijen (Investment Manager at Invest-NL) work closely together with the aim of making an impact in the world of micromobility.

Henri: “We approached Invest-NL because our values and ambitions align so strongly; the criteria used by Invest-NL to identify relevant investments fit perfectly with Dott's priorities. There had to be a good connection, and there was. With the investment, we focus on expanding into new markets and cities, so we can help more people switch to sustainable and efficient modes of travel. Invest-NL is an ideal partner in this, actively involved in the business and supporting us in our mission with concrete actions and insights.”

Henri: “We are proud to be supported by an investor who is as focused on sustainability as part of their valuation of a company's success. Invest-NL truly wants to make an impact. And that is reflected in the people. We work closely with Elisabeth and Elwin. They are very nice people to collaborate with. The level of thought leadership and ambition in sustainability at Invest-NL exceeded our expectations. This sets them apart from other impact funds. We are supported and challenged to strengthen our sustainability goals and actions. This is invaluable to us.”

Since its founding in 2019, Dott has been based in the Netherlands. And this is no coincidence. The Netherlands is the knowledge hub for micromobility in the world. To contribute to the accumulated knowledge and impact of micromobility in the Netherlands, Dott has appointed a dedicated general country manager. Maxim: “Dott works closely with partners and urban authorities to further make Dutch cities more sustainable. Currently, nearly 200 people work at the headquarters in Amsterdam with a shared ambition to develop the most sustainable shared mobility solutions and alternative transport options that are safe and accessible for the entire society.”

In the Netherlands, Dott is now focusing on electric shared bikes, of which approximately 10,000 units are circulating abroad. Additionally, Dott is working with RDW on the approval of its electric stand-up scooters. Around 40,000 of these are already in operation in more than 30 European cities. Dott is eager to bring this experience to the Netherlands as well. The compact size of the scooter offers fantastic opportunities for single-person transportation in Dutch cities, where space is limited. It is a good alternative to motorized transport and a valuable supplement to the electric shared bike; an enrichment for public transport. Once the scooter is approved, Dott offers different mobility options for the Dutch, each suitable for different needs, and provides an extra incentive to move from ownership to the use of shared mobility solutions.

Elwin: “Our society needs to make significant steps in the climate transition and in the field of circularity. Mobility is one of the sectors where technology exists to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, especially by considering the type and manner of use of each mode of transport. Every large European city free of cars, with sustainable alternatives that offer a high degree of connectivity, is an achievable goal. For Dott, minimizing environmental impact is part of the company's DNA, which makes this transition so interesting; we see that sustainable alternatives are available.”